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The George Washington University Law School
With almost 150 years of history and an enviable setting in the heart of the nation's capital, The George Washington University Law School attracts thousands of applicants and hundreds of matriculants each year. Aside from its location in one of the world's biggest and most competitive legal markets, the school features a solid national reputation and one of the country's most prominent intellectual property programs.
Contents
History
In the Republic's early years, when the nation's new capital was no more than a small collection of public buildings separated by pastureland, President George Washington advised Congress to establish a national university at the seat of government.
His goal was to educate future generations of civil servants and forge a national identity based on "principles friendly to republican government and the true and genuine liberties of mankind." He left in his will 50 shares of stock in the Potowmack Canal Company for the endowment of a university "to which the youth of fortune and talents from all parts thereof might be sent for the completion of their Education in all the branches of polite literature-in arts and Sciences-in acquiring knowledge in the principles of Politics & good Government."
Though it would be decades before George Washington's namesake university would be established by an Act of Congress, the George Washington University Law School-established in 1865-was the first law school in the District of Columbia. Today, the School continues to embody the aspirations of the nation's first president.
Admissions
In the 2024‑2025 admissions cycle, GW Law received 8,091 applications and admitted 2,637 candidates, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 32.6%. Ultimately, 520 students enrolled as first-year J.D. students (including both full‑time and part‑time), producing a yield (enrollment) rate of ~19.7%. The entering class of about 527 students (495 full‑time, 25 part‑time, plus several pre‑admits) entered with a strong academic profile: an average LSAT score of 168 and a mean undergraduate GPA of 3.87, with the middle 50% of scores ranging from 159 to 169 and GPAs between 3.62 and 3.93. Tuition and fees for the 2025 academic year are $72,520, with the average merit scholarship award around $25,000, and approximately 80.8% of students receiving some form of grant aid. The school's first‑time bar exam pass rate stood at 86.1%, above the D.C. average.
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 160 - 168 - 170 | 159 - 168 - 169 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.54 - 3.85 - 3.91 | 3.62 - 3.87 - 3.93 |
| Acceptance rate | 25% | 32.6% |
| Applications received | 8310 | 8091 |
| Acceptances | 2387 | 2637 |
| Matriculants | 513 | 520 |
Based on the 2024–2025 admissions data for The George Washington University Law School, the class profile demonstrates both academic competitiveness and a notable increase in accessibility. The median LSAT score for enrolled students was 168, with the middle 50% range falling between 159 and 169. The GPA distribution was also strong, with a median GPA of 3.87 and the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning from 3.62 to 3.93. The school received 8,091 applications for the entering class and offered admission to 2,637 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 32.6%. Ultimately, 520 students chose to matriculate. Compared to the previous cycle (2023–2024), there was a slight increase in both the number of applications and acceptances, as well as a broader GPA range, indicating a continued effort by the school to attract a diverse and academically accomplished student body.
Multiple LSAT Scores
Although the admissions committee will see all LSAT information, GW gives the most weight to the highest score. Per American Bar Association regulations, the law school will also report each matriculating student's highest score for rankings and other purposes.
Personal Statements and Addenda
Applicants must submit a personal statement on any subject of importance that will assist the Admissions Committee in its decision. It should be no more than two pages, double-spaced. Applicants may also submit an optional identity statement discussing characteristics and accomplishments they believe will contribute positively to the GW Law community and to the legal profession. For more information on personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.
Letters of Recommendation
At least one letter of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation/Evaluation Service. To get some additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.
Binding Early Decision Program
Applicants who apply through either the binding Early Decision process or the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program must complete and submit a Binding Agreement along with their applications. To read a TLS article about making the decision between ED and RD (or Regular Decision), click here.
Transfers, Waitlists, and Deferrals
The George Washington University Law School's transfer class comprises students from 43 different law schools. They come from 7 different countries, in addition to the United States. These countries are Brazil, China, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, 18 states and the District of Columbia are represented. The class is 50% female and 46% diverse. The ages of the students in the class range from 21 to 39, with a median age of 26. 8 of the students have advanced degrees, and 34 speak at least one language other than English.
George Washington Law places several applicants on a waitlist each year. The school encourages those on the waitlist to remain engaged with the law school, notifying GW Law of any relevant updates like second-semester college grades, honors, or work promotions. Some waitlisted candidates will receive notice of their acceptance as late as August.
The law school grants a limited number of deferrals to admitted students each year, considering requests on a case-by-case basis. One-year requests are more likely to be approved than two-year requests. However, multiple-year deferrals will be granted for exceptional circumstances like military duty or well-known public service fellowships. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.
Tuition and Expenses
For the academic year 2025–2026, tuition and mandatory fees for full-time J.D. students at The George Washington University Law School are $72,520, reflecting a 3.99% increase over the previous year. When combined with estimated living expenses—covering room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and personal costs—the total cost of attendance reaches approximately $103,630, based on averages of $31,110 in non‑tuition living expenses. After factoring in financial aid, about 80.8% of students receive grants averaging $25,000, which significantly lowers the net cost for many.
Cost of Attendance
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the total cost of attendance at The George Washington University Law School for full-time J.D. students is estimated at approximately $103,630. This figure includes $72,520 in tuition and mandatory fees and about $31,110 in estimated living expenses, which cover housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and personal costs. The university notes that these figures can vary depending on a student's individual lifestyle and housing choices, especially for those living off campus. With nearly 81% of students receiving financial aid—including grants that average around $25,000—many students pay significantly less than the full sticker price. Budgeting wisely and applying for scholarships or federal aid can help manage the overall cost of earning a J.D. at GW Law.
| Category | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $72,520 |
| Living Expenses (Estimated) | $31,110 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $103,630 |
| Average Grant Award | $25,000 |
| Students Receiving Aid | 80.8% |
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The law school works with students individually to ensure that each receives the most generous aid package available. All admitted applicants will be considered for merit-based scholarships. These awards, which vary in amount, are based on the strength of applications; no separate scholarship applications are required. Grants are also awarded to admitted and continuing students based on financial need and availability of resources.
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to apply for need-based grants and federal loans from the George Washington University Law School. You may not be eligible for need-based grants if you are transfer students, joint BA/JD students, receiving tuition benefits as a GW employee, or receiving a GW Law Merit Scholarship of $20,000 or more.
GW Law supports a limited number of students committed to public interest work, including summer funding and fellowships for 3L's. The school also has a loan repayment assistance program (LRAP) that provides up to $8,000 a year of assistance to graduates working in low-paying public service. For more information about GW's LRAP-which is not guaranteed for all qualifying students-see the TLS LRAP profile.
Academics
At GW Law, they believe that legal education should be about more than just coursework. Their curriculum is designed to be collaborative and distinctive so that students can explore various areas of the law and find what they are passionate about. In addition, they offer flexible pathways to legal education. Students can easily switch between full-time and part-time status to take advantage of job opportunities. At the same time, in law school, they accommodate family responsibilities and plan their education to fit changing needs. This dynamic combination of support and career development from the start of each student’s legal education sets the GW Law experience apart from all others.
Curriculum
First-year students at George Washington Law take a traditional slate of mandatory classes: Torts, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, and Contracts (the latter two are taken both semesters of 1L year). In addition, GW requires students to take a graded semester of Legal Writing and Research. This related Advocacy class focuses on pretrial motions, appellate briefs, and a course on Professional Responsibility and Ethics.
Owing to its large size, GW Law offers over 200 classroom options for upper-level students, not counting many clinical opportunities. According to the ABA, these classes include 75 seminars. 1L sections are large (at around 100 students), although these are broken up into much smaller groups for Legal Writing and Research.
While the law school does not offer major-like specialty tracks, the school highlights seven "academic focus areas" with strong faculty and resource support, including Environmental Law and Government Procurement Law. GW's Intellectual Property Law program is especially notable: U.S. News & World Report ranks the school third in the country, trailing only elite Bay Area schools Berkeley and Stanford.[viii]
Professors
As one of the nation's biggest centers of legal teaching and scholarship, GW Law boasts a large and diverse faculty. University of Chicago professor Brian Leiter's most recent study on scholarly impact, as indicated by several citations, ranks George Washington's faculty eighteenth in the nation, despite the exercise's admitted bias against larger schools. GW placed two spots ahead of nearby Georgetown in this study.[ix]
Prominent faculty members include Naomi Cahn, a well-known expert in family law; Orin Kerr, who has authored or co-authored popular casebooks in criminal procedure and cyberspace law; Richard J. Pierce, Jr., the most commonly cited administrative law scholar in the world; and Jeffrey Rosen, whose legal insights frequently appear in top law reviews and a variety of popular media outlets. Still, one TLS user writes that the value of GW's professors goes beyond scholarly reputation:
The professors are fabulous at GW. Many are top scholars in their field, but so many more [have] practical experience. For example, I am leaning towards prosecution, and two of my professors this semester have been prosecutors at either a US Attorney's Office or [the] DOJ. Almost all are approachable and eager to help you understand the material, either after class or at office hours. For example, my Evidence professor even agreed to help me figure out some evidence issues for my mock trial competition.[x]
However, George Washington's large student body does make for bigger class sizes: at roughly 15:1, GW's student-to-faculty ratio is the highest among top-twenty schools.[xi] Enrollment in some classes tops 75 or even 100 students. While one TLS user complains that this makes for a "diploma mill" atmosphere,[xii] others point out that except for classes taught by the most prominent professors, most 2L and 3L classes are not huge, and claim that "the larger student body is not really 'felt' in the classroom."[xiii]
LL.M. Program
GW Law offers a general Masters of Law degree for foreign-trained lawyers who wish to take the bar and practice in the United States. The law school also confers LL.M. degrees in nine specialty areas, including Business and Finance Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, International and Comparative Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution Law, and National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law. For most of these tracks, LL.M. students take classes alongside J.D. candidates.
Joint Degrees
J.D. students at GW Law benefit from all the advantages of a national research university, including various joint degree options with four schools at GWU. Law students interested in business or finance can earn an M.B.A. from the George Washington University School of Business. Those with global or political interests can pursue a degree with the Elliot School of International Affairs, and those interested in health issues can earn a Master of Public Health with the School of Public Health and Health Services. The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences also offers joint degrees with the law school, like a Master of Public Policy or an M.A. in legal history or women's studies.
Joint degree hopefuls must be accepted to each program separately. Once admitted, joint degree candidates take a standard 1L course load before beginning their graduate study. Twelve credits from the second degree can generally be counted toward the J.D. credit hours requirement. The university offers two joint degree options to Master of Laws students: an M.P.H and three M.A. tracks with the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
Study Abroad
GW Law students can spend a summer studying European and International Law at the University of Augsburg, Intellectual Property Law in Munich, or International Human Rights Law at Oxford University. Through the North American Consortium on Legal Education, students can also spend a semester studying at one of several law schools in Canada or Mexico.[xiv]
Student Activities
Journals
George Washington Law publishes seven journals on which students can gain editing experience, and over 400 students generally become involved with at least one publication. The George Washington Law Review is the most competitive of these journals. Students are chosen largely on the basis of first-year grades, but a writing competition also weighs in the selection process, and up to 10% of each year's new members may be selected solely on a "write-on" basis. The Law Review holds a separate writing competition for transfer students and an editing competition to select members for editorial board positions.
Law Review writing competition results are also used to select members for the George Washington International Law Review, International Law in Domestic Courts, andthe Public Law Contract Journal. Other editing opportunities include the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal, the Federal Circuit Bar Journal, and the Journal of Energy and Environmental Law.
Clinics and Externships
GW Law's size and location provide a rich diversity of clinical experiences. Twelve different clinics span a range of interests, from immigration law and domestic violence advocacy to small business development and consumer mediation. One of these clinics, D.C. Law Students in Court, is a joint effort between George Washington and four other area law schools. The Vaccine Injury Clinic offers a unique experience, as it is the only one of its kind.
GW students, with little initiative, can pursue faculty-supervised externships in one of the world's most exciting legal markets. Students in the Outside Placement program must enroll in a co-requisite course. Students participating in the program have had the opportunity to work for federal judges, government agencies like the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, and prestigious public interest organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the World Health Organization.
GW Law students who use the TLS forums consistently rave about the year-round opportunities living in D.C. presents, especially for those willing to do some legwork on their own. Says one student:
There's an advantage, especially during the school year, to us (and Georgetown) just because of access. The internships that exist during summer don't vanish during the year, and there's less competition for them[xv]
Another writes:
If you go to GW, you can work for DOJ or any federal agency, intern for a District Court judge, work on the Hill, or even at the White House, and get class credit for it. It can be hard to get into those places in the summer, but it is pretty easy to do so during the spring or fall.[xvi]
Skills Boards
George Washington Law gives students three opportunities to develop their lawyering skills through competition. The Moot Court Board and Mock Trial Board each hold several annual internal competitions and send students to compete in interscholastic events. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Board explores non-litigious methods of resolving conflicts, allowing interested students to hone their negotiation and arbitration skills.[xvii]
Student Organizations
Over forty student groups represent various interests, ranging from professional niches (the Corporate and Business Law Society and the Cyberlaw Students Association) to the less serious (the GW Law Softball Club and the entertainers' group, Law Revue). These organizations, along with journals, experiential learning, and the District's ample professional development and recreation opportunities, should ensure that no GW Law student becomes bored.
Facilities
The law school offers the kind of modern amenities one would expect from a well-respected institution, including three moot court rooms, campus-wide wireless access, and "smart" classrooms that integrate recent technology with the traditional teaching of law. Law students also have access to the conveniences of a large research university, including necessities like a well-equipped fitness facility (the Lerner Health and Wellness Center). The Jacob Burns Law Library boasts over 600,000 volumes and a large staff.[xviii]
If students have one complaint about GW Law's facilities, it seems to be limited space. The library, for example, has seating capacity for 637 students, or about 40% of the student body. One TLS poster who attended GW complains:
The law school is cramped. It's made up of multiple buildings that were once individual but have since been renovated and made into a larger building. I liked the idea, but in practice so many people in such small quarters got very irritating, often to the point where I couldn't stand to be there. Though, to be fair, they have since added a new wing and cafe. That helps a bit, I suppose.[xix]
Employment Prospects and Bar Passage
For the Class of 2024 (reported in 2025), The George Washington University Law School recorded a strong first-time bar passage rate of 86.09%, with 489 graduates sitting for the exam and 421 successfully passing. This performance was notably above both the national and D.C. averages. Employment outcomes were equally promising: out of 564 graduates, 517 (91.7%) secured full-time, long-term employment within ten months of graduation. Among those employed, 471 (83.5%) obtained jobs requiring bar passage, while 40 (7.1%) accepted J.D.-advantage roles that leverage legal training without necessitating bar admission. Law firms employed the majority of graduates (around 53%), with others entering government, business, and public interest sectors. Most graduates found work in Washington, D.C., New York, and Virginia. GW Law also earned national recognition by ranking #5 in 10-month employment rate, with a placement rate of 99.3%, highlighting the school’s consistent success in preparing students for the legal job market.
| Category | Outcome |
|---|---|
| First‑Time Bar Passage Rate | 86.09% |
| Total First‑Time Bar Examinees | 489 |
| First‑Time Bar Passers | 421 |
| Graduates in Long‑Term, Full‑Time Jobs | 517 of 564 (91.7%) |
| Bar Passage‑Required Positions | 471 (83.5%) |
| J.D. Advantage Positions | 40 (7.1%) |
| Not Seeking or Unknown Employment | ~1.9% |
| Top Employment Sectors | Law Firms (53%), Government, Business, Public Interest |
| Leading Employment Locations | Washington, D.C.; New York; Virginia |
| 10‑Month Employment Rate Rank (National) | 5th (99.3%) |
Private Practice
As noted above, most GW Law students will work for firms. Summer associate and full-time positions with large, market-paying firms have been harder to come by in recent years. Students without top grades are increasingly sweating out on-campus interviews or scrambling to find other employment options.
Students with strong intellectual property backgrounds have an easier time securing lucrative firm offers than most. The strong reputation of the IP program, as well as the limited supply of law students with hard science backgrounds, combines to give these candidates higher employment chances and greater geographic reach, as one TLS poster attests:
Firms that recruit GW students for IP are always more lenient in terms of grades. I remember at OCI a firm I was interviewing [with] required a 3.4 unless you were IP [in which case the cut-off] was a 3.0. We also have a bunch of people here from California who plan on returning when they are done with law school. I am not an IP person, but I know from some of my friends who are that the connections are just insane.
A 2L with an engineering background adds:
A lot of my friends at GW happened to be in IP, and almost 100 percent of us have found summer associate positions - GW is so well known for IP that you really can't go wrong here.[xxii]
Clerkships
GW students have clerked for some of the nation's most prestigious judges: for example, four GW grads have clerked for the Supreme Court in the past five years. A Clerkship Office helps current and recent graduates navigate the involved application process. However, clerking is not a particularly common career move for GW students: just a tenth of each graduating class clerks in a given year, and the school typically places fewer Article III clerks on a percentage basis than its ranking and reputation might suggest.
Public Interest
GW Law's Career Development Office has a staff member dedicated to public interest opportunities, and David Johnson serves as the school's Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Public Service Law.[xxiii] The school has a limited LRAP program, and the Washington, D.C. area provides public interest-minded students with many opportunities to connect with potential employers. Still, public interest students make up a fairly small percentage of each year's class, and students who finance a significant fraction of the total cost of attendance may find it extremely difficult to take low-paying public service jobs without relying on federal income-based repayment.
Housing
GW Law has recently begun offering law students the option of university-sponsored housing. First-year students have the option of living in the Aston, a West End residence comprised of one-bedroom efficiency apartments. The residential complex is within six blocks of the law school and offers walking access to the fashionable Dupont Circle neighborhood, but comes with a hefty price tag: $15,500 for the current academic year. Law students can also live in the Hall on Virginia Avenue, a cheaper option at $10,150 a year.
The majority of law students live in non-university apartments. While D.C. is an exciting place for young people to live, it is not cheap: according to www.payscale.com, housing in the District is nearly twice as expensive as the national average. One TLS poster speculates:
I would say most students live within one mile of school, though many live in neighborhoods as diverse as Eastern Market, Arlington, Georgetown, and Penn Quarter. The school is centrally located and easy to get to by multiple forms of public transportation, so there are many options outside Foggy Bottom.[xxiv]
Multiple TLS users advise prospective students to consider commuting to school from nearby Arlington, Virginia, where rent is generally cheaper and accommodations more spacious. Neighborhoods like Roslyn, Clarendon, and Ballston are a short metro ride away from Foggy Bottom on the Orange Line.
Quality of Life
Student life at George Washington Law seems defined by size and location. Some love the large and diverse student body, while others complain about a lack of class cohesion. The economic downturn, with its corresponding increase in competition for selective jobs, has no doubt affected quality of life for some. Still, one TLS user happily reports:
Almost everyone I have met at GW is friendly and helpful, and always willing to share notes. I have never experienced any backbiting that I was expecting from a competitive environment.[xxv]
The school does its part to help students relax: each "Thirsty Thursday," the school gives out free beer, and the GW Student Bar Association puts on its version of the law school staple, Bar Review. While Foggy Bottom is not a huge nightlife spot, nearby neighborhoods like Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and North Arlington offer fun options for various personalities.
Outside of GWU's immediate environs, Washington's benefits are not limited to networking opportunities. Students have plenty of options for escaping the stresses of law school. One of the country's greatest cities for culture, D.C. boasts landmarks like the Smithsonian Institution museums and the Kennedy Center. The city has major league sports and a vibrant music scene, with various neighborhoods and scenes to suit most every taste. A well-organized metro system makes navigating the city and its surrounding suburbs easy even without a car, and national entertainment acts make D.C. a regular stop.
Prospective students should, however, keep the metro area's high cost of living in mind. As mentioned above, rent will run most students $1,000 or more, and other costs like transportation and entertainment are higher than the national metropolitan average.
Synopsis
As the second-best law school with year-round access to the large and diverse D.C. market, George Washington Law School has a lot to offer prospective law students. GW Law students live in a fun, fast-paced city where opportunities to connect with top law firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations abound; furthermore; they can take advantage of a deep, experienced faculty and the considerable resources afforded by one of the country's largest law schools. However, those thinking about GW without substantial financial support should look before they leap. Rising tuition and high living expenses make attending the law school a pricey proposition, and the recent recession looks to keep high-paying legal jobs well below peak levels for the foreseeable future.
Contact Information
The George Washington University Law School
2000 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202.994.6261
Fax: 202.994.8980
Admissions Office
700 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202.994.7230
Fax: 202.994.3597
E-mail: admissions@law.gwu.edu
Summary
| Established | 1865 |
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Dean | Dayna Bowen Matthew |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 31th |
| LSAT Median Score | 168 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.87 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 86.1% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | N/A % (2025) |
| Cost | $72,520 full-time,
$58,508 part-time |
| Average Debt | N/A |
| Application Deadline | March 1, 2025 |
Forum and Discussion
The George Washington University Law School Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://www.law.gwu.edu/
https://www.law.gwu.edu/jd-admissions
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